Petrobras mobilizes teams for emergency drills at new exploration sites

Yesterday and Tuesday (16 and 17), Petrobras conducted an oil spill simulation in the Potiguar Basin, in exploration block POT-M-762, located 85 km from Ponta Grossa Beach, in Icapuí, Ceará. The drill was carried out in compliance with a condition presented by Ibama as a step towards obtaining the license to drill the Pitu Oeste and Anhangá wells in the Potiguar Basin.
 
In total, around 440 people were mobilized during the two-day exercise, which took place in Fortim, Ceará, and Rio de Janeiro. Four aircraft, two drones, two ambulances, 32 land vehicles, and 20 boats were mobilized to simulate the containment and collection of oil, coastal protection, monitoring, rescue, and assistance to wildlife.
 
In Fortim, an outpost was set up with a medical unit and two ambulances. In Rio de Janeiro, at the Senado Building, Petrobras' headquarters in the city center, the teams were engaged in meeting demands and making the necessary arrangements for the operations to go ahead.
 
Petrobras' Exploration and Production Director, Joelson Falcão Mendes, stressed the importance of the exercise:
 
"Any drill that is part of our routine teaches us a lot so that we feel ready for possible real events. We are seeking licensing for a new frontier, an extremely important area for Petrobras, and I am convinced that, with this competent work done here, Ibama will be more confident that, in the very unlikely event of an incident, we are prepared to act," said Joelson.
 
To prove the robustness of the resources for dealing with fauna, 20 task forces were put into action at sea and on the beaches, with around 50 professionals specialized in the subject, including biologists, veterinarians, and handlers. Four fauna reception and stabilization units were set up between Aracati and Icapuí. In addition, the Depetrolization, Rehabilitation, and Quarantine Centre (IAAP) in Caucaia was mobilized for the event.
 
On the Equatorial Margin alone, there are four Environmental Defense Centers (CDAs) located in Pará, Maranhão, Ceará, and Rio Grande do Norte; in addition to nine other CDAs, advanced bases, and emergency response centers distributed throughout the rest of Brazil. All these structures are duly equipped for a prompt response in the event of an accidental oil spill at sea to minimize damage to the environment, even if the likelihood of such an event occurring is extremely remote.
 
The commander of the drill, Jeferson Kinzel, explained that Petrobras is continuously improving its emergency response capacity:
 
"This drill represents the final stage of several years' work. Our EOR team worked very well orchestrated, showing that we are fully capable of meeting all the demands related to protecting the environment, fauna, and coastal protection, as Petrobras is committed to. In a new frontier area like this, showing efficiency, safety, and a huge mobilization of people, equipment, and resources opens up new perspectives for us to operate in the Equatorial Margin as a whole," he emphasized.
 
It's worth remembering that these wells have already been drilled. The drill was carried out at this time of year, at Ibama's request, due to climatic and marine conditions, but it concerns drilling that has already been done.
 
Equatorial Margin

The Potiguar Basin covers maritime portions of the states of Rio Grande do Norte and Ceará and is part of the so-called Brazilian Equatorial Margin, stretching between Amapá and Rio Grande do Norte. The region is considered one of the world's newest and most promising frontiers in deep and ultra-deep waters.

Recent discoveries announced in regions adjacent to these frontiers, especially in neighboring Guyana and Suriname, indicate significant oil production potential for the Brazilian Equatorial Margin.

Brazil's new frontiers are essential for guaranteeing national energy security and sovereignty in the context of energy transition and a low-carbon economy.